Steam-trap and boiler-feeder



I (NoModelJ) W. SIMPKIN.

1 STEAM TRAPAND BOILER FEEDER.

' No. 385,014. Patented June 2 1888;

Witnesses:

N. PETERS. Phnmm m. Washingmn, n. c.

NlTED STATES ATENT OFFICEO WILLIAM SIMPKIN, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

STEAM-TRAP AND BOILER-FEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 385,014, dated June 26, 1888.

Application filed September 2, 1887. Serial No. 248,573.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SIMPKIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rich- 'mond, in the county of Henrico and State of structions, arrangements, and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter fully described, and. pointed out in the claims, the same constituting an improved means for feeding the dripwater into the boiler, steam and water being employed as adjuncts to the mechanical appliances, the structure being such that great simplicity and effectiveness of operation are secured. r

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view, mostly in vertical section, of my im proved combined steam-trap and boiler-feed er, and Fig. 2 is a horizontal section along the water-line of its valve-chan'iber.

The letter A in the drawings represents a re ceiver or reservoir elevated above a boiler and connected with the same by means of a feedpipe, 0, having a check-valve, O, which prevents steam under pressure from entering the said receiver. Formed at the top of the receiver or suitably fastened thereto is a cylindrical valve-chamber, B, provided with three ports, I T U, of which U is an ordinary exhaust'port, P port connecting the valve-chamber with the receiver A, and T port connecting the valve-chamber by means of a pipe, M, with a drip-box, K. A pipe, N, establishes communication between the left end portion of the valve-chamber and the topportion of the receiver, the said communication being opened and closed by means of a float-valve, F, arranged within the receiver and hinged at f to the same, said valve being provided with a leverarm, f, having a float, Z, on its free end. A pipe, L, affords communication between the right end portion of the valve-chamher and the upper portion of the drip-box K. This latter communication is alternately opened or closed by means of a valve, 1+",withi n the drip-box, and hinged at f to the same,

(No model.)

said valve having an arm, fflcarryingafloat, Z, as shown.

Steam is introduced into the valve-chamber B from the boiler by means of a pipe, S,having two branches, 8. leading to and connecting with two ports, 8, in the valve-chamber. WVithin the valve-chamber a hollow sliding pistonvalve, V, is snugly fitted, said valve having an annular exhaust'spaee, 22, about midway of its length, which, when the valve is moved, alternately affords communication between the ports T U and P U, as will be hereinafter shown. The periphery of the lateral annular walls '0' u of the valvespace o covers the ports P and T when the valve stands at the middle of its stroke, same as in the case of the slide valve of an ordinary steam-engine. Between the annular walls a o and the end portion of the valve annular steamways o are provided, which receive the steam from the ports 8' at either side of the walls 1) o. The annular walls 22 o are bridged over by the branches 8 of the steam-pipe S, so that the steam from the pipe S cannot enter the space '0. The receiver A is furthermore connected with the drip box K by means of adrain-pipe; 0, having a check valve, 1), for preventing back-pressure from the receiver. The dripwater reaches the. drip box by means of-adrip' pipe, h, from which the intermittent steam- V pressure in the drip-box K is excluded by means ofa checlevalve, H.

Operation: From the foregoing description and accompanying drawings it will be understood that the reeeiver A being placed near the boiler and on a higher level, the steamchest 13, containing a piston-valve, V, with solid ends (or rather a combination of two pistons 9e and a piston-valve calling the two outer ends pistons) placed on top of said receiver and working on a three-ported facingthe port T being in direct communication with the drip box through pipe M N, and the port P in direct communication with the receiver A, and the port U in direct communication with the open air,and the one end of steam-chestB being connected with the receiver by pipe N, the connection being closed by valve Fand ball-float Ioc Z, while the opposite end of steam-chest communicates with the drip-box through pipe L, and the connection also closed by valve and float, the operation will be as follows: The

condensed water collecting in the drip-box, as for the valves and other parts are unnecessary,

soon as it reaches the float lifts the valve, and the saving of power by the avoidance of whereby the equilibrium of the piston-valve friction is accomplished.

is destroyed by the reduction of the pressure The construction of my combined steam-trap 3 behind the right-hand piston or end of valve, and boiler-feeder is such that no other but 55 the valve immediately moving to the right. simple pipe connections with the boiler and Steam then passes through port T and pipe M with the drip mechanism are required to atto drip-box, and acting on the water in the tach it to a heating apparatus, and the valve K drip-box forcesit up the pipe 0 into the re V is actuated directly by steam, there being Yceiver through valve 1), the steam which was no intervention of weights, floats, orlevers for 60 alreadyin the receiver A having been eX- operating it.

hausted through port 1 into port U and out to Q It will be seen that my invention requires the atmosphere. As soon as the water in reno back-pressure on the drip-pipes, and there ceiver A reaches the float Z it opens valve F, fore the heating apparatus will not be influ- 5 thus again destroying the equilibrium of pisenced by the operation ofthe same, thus avoid- 5 ton-valve V by the reduction of pressure being much inconvenience usually experienced hind the left-hand piston or end of valve to with steam-traps atmospheric pressure. The pressure in the What I claim as my invention is-- steam-chest then causes the piston-valve to 1. The combined steam trap and boiler- I 3 move to the left back into its first position, and feeder, comprising in its construction a steam- 70 the action described is repeated. The ports chest on the receiver, having passages which '1 and U being new in communication, the placeitin communication with the return dripsteam in the drip box K is exhausted and live chamber, receiver, and steam-generator, and steam entersthrough port P into the receiver a hollow sliding piston valve, V, which is A and balances the pressure therein with that Wholly within the steam chest and is con- 7" of the boiler, and the weight of the water,by structed with passages 22 o" if, said valve being reason of the height of its column in theremoved in said chest and serving itself to conceiver, lifts the check-valve O and the water trol the flow of live and exhaust steam by movruns down into the boiler until the resistance iug back and forth by reason of a change al- 9 of the check-valve is sufficient to stop the ternately of the steam-pressure at its respect- So in. J

same. ive ends to atmospheric pressure, substantially If the fires under the boiler are put out and as and for the purpose described. the boiler allowed to cool down, the operation 2. The combination of the valve-chamber ofthe invention will cease, and the dripbox B, having ports I T 'U and sliding piston- 5 being filled the valve F will be opened and valve V, the receiver A and drip box K, a 8 2 the valve V moved to the right, and in this pipe, 0, of a steanrboiler, and connections h condition the apparatus remains until the L M N O S, and suitable valves, as F F, for

steam-pressure is again sufficiently increased operating with the same, substantially as and to lift the water from the drip box to the refor the purpose described.

0 ceiver. 3. Thevalve-chamberB,haviugpiston slide- 0 Thus it will be seen that my invention is invalve V, in combination with the receiver A,

dependent of regulatorssuch as steam cocks drip-box K, float-valves F F, and pipes L N,

or globe-val\-es-for cutting off steam, water, substantially as and for the purpose described.

and the like, and mistakes which are liable to In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in 5 occur in the management of such valves will presence of two witnesses.

be avoided. By having the movable parts-- viz. ,floats and valvesinclosed in the dripbox L SIMPKI) and receiver there is no danger of interference \Vitnesses. and disturbance by unskilled or unauthorized H. K. GRIFFITH, 0 persons. Stuffing-boxes,pacl;ing,and thelike \VM. F. HOWARD. 

